Child molester suspect waives hearing

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS Heinz Rausch, center, of Palmerton, covers up as he's escorted by Palmerton Police from the office of District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton on Tuesday. Rausch, who has been accused of two separate cases of child molestation, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will appear in Carbon County Court of Common Pleas for a pretrial status conference next month.

By TERRY AHNER tahner@tnonline.com

A Palmerton man accused of two separate cases of child molestation has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Heinz Rausch, 68, was scheduled to have the hearing before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton on Tuesday.

Instead, Rausch opted to waive the hearing, and will appear for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. March 29 in the district attorney's office at the courthouse in Jim Thorpe.

Rausch faces four charges of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of indecent assault, and one count each of indecent exposure, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors. The alleged victims are ages 5 and 8.

He was returned to Carbon County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight bail on each case.

In one case, filed by Palmerton Patrolman Kevin Buck, the alleged victim's parents, along with the maternal grandmother, arrived at the borough police station on Dec. 30 to report the abuse of their 5-year-old daughter.

The affidavit says the child was asked by a relative if she knew what a male's private parts were. Upon asking her where she had heard that, the victim stated that Rausch told her to call it that.

The victim was asked when this happens. The child responded, the affidavit says, in the hot tub and the bedroom with the door locked. The victim went on to explain a game they play call ducks in the trunk, where Rausch would place two rubber ducks in his swim trunks and have the victim retrieve them.

Chief of Police Randy Smith contacted the Children's Advocacy Center, which, after being advised of the situation requested they report there immediately for a proper evaluation. Once there, the victim was evaluated verbally and examined medically.

The victim related other alleged improper advances.

Rausch also faces separate charges of two counts of indecent assault, as well as one count each of indecent exposure, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors, for an incident that was also reported at about 11 a.m. Dec. 30.

According to that affidavit of probable cause, also filed by Buck:

The parents arrived at the borough police department to report the abuse of their 8-year-old daughter, according to that affidavit.

They advised that after receiving a call, he asked the victim if she was ever touched by Rausch, the affidavit says. She advised that she was, and provided details.

The victim said that she would tell Rausch to stop, which he would, but then it would happen again. Both provided written statements consistent with this.

At about 12:20 p.m., Chief Smith contacted the Children's Advocacy Center, which after being advised of the situation, requested they report there for a proper evaluation.

The victim stated that Rausch had exposed his private parts to her, and that she remembers the first time any of this ever happened was when she was in second grade, and it happened in his bedroom located in the home.